Ephemeral ink is supposed to fade within 15 months — but the company 'can't account for every single variable' A tattoo company that markets its ink as "made to fade" has come under fire from customers who say the tattoos are not as temporary as they'd hoped. Their motto at the time was: "Regret nothing."
With all these variables at play, we know that 70% of Ephemerals will fade in under 2 years based on the most popular tattoo design and placement choices customers make today. Regardless of where your Ephemeral tattoo falls in this range, rest assured: Your tattoo will completely fade.
How Long Before The Ephemeral Tattoo Fades? In general, Sakhai says the tattoos last around nine to 15 months. “How the tattoo looks over time is very much influenced by the healing process, so taking great care of it is critical,” he explains.
To be clear, getting an Ephemeral tattoo is still every bit as painful as getting a traditional one. It's not a stick-on, temporary tattoo that just needs a wet washcloth.
Unlike traditional tattoo ink, our bodies naturally remove Ephemeral ink over time. Our ink is made from ingredients that are FDA-approved for medical use and tested for biocompatibility.
The Statement Ephemeral ($450) large tattoos that often have more shading.
An Ephemeral tattoo will cost the same as a permanent tattoo – anywhere between $250 and $450 for a typical design. As Josh sees it, “This is a revolutionary new technology and there's nowhere else able to offer this experience. The fact that it's made-to-fade is an added benefit, not a detractor from the price.”
Inkbox has the most long-lasting temporary tattoos. Unlike other brands that apply in seconds, you have to leave this one on for an hour.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning about temporary tattoos, also known as “henna” tattoos. There have been reports of severe skin reactions, sometimes leading to permanent scarring.
The best products to use if you're interested in this method are rubbing alcohol and nail polish remover, though hydrogen peroxide and hand sanitizer would also work. To use these products, simply rub the remover of your choice onto the temporary tattoo with a gentle cloth.
Not only do Ephemeral's tattoos go on with an actual tattooing needle, they last anywhere from nine months to a year rather than a day or two—and cost anywhere from $190 to $550.
The current state of traditional tattoo pricing
First thing first, I'd like to debunk the myth that Ephemerals “cost more than permanent tattoos” by highlighting there isn't a set standard for permanent tattoo pricing. Traditional tattoo pricing is in fact quite variable.
The latest made-to-fade technology in "ephemeral" tattoos means that's no longer a pipe dream; the ink is designed to slowly break down over time, fully disappearing after 10 months to a year.
That being said, this tattoo was definitely a bit more painful than previous tattoos, mostly because of the way the Ephemeral ink works.
Don't worry, this is completely natural. It happens because the old skin, damaged during the tattooing process, forms a thin layer over your tattoo and masks its true appearance. In time this old skin will naturally exfoliate itself, revealing your tattoo underneath in all its vibrant glory.
Chinese ink is a method where a tattoo artist cuts the surface of the skin and applies their own blend of ink to create a semi-permanent tattoo that lasts up to six months. This technique is controversial because the ink ingredients could be toxic and, in many cases, last much longer than expected.
Temporary tattoos typically have a life of 3-5 days, while semi-permanent tattoos can last anywhere from 1-2 weeks.
The so-called semi-permanent tattoos are said to stay in the skin forever, and more often than not, they are inked by amateur artists who risk exposing their customers to viruses or inflammation such as HIV or hepatitis.
Temporary tattoos are waterproof and sweat-proof, but avoid scrubbing the area or rubbing it against clothing, towels, etc.
Flash Tattoos will last about 2-6 days, depending on where they are placed and how well you take care of them. To care for your tattoos, avoid putting soaps, sunscreens, lotions and oils near or on the them. These types of oil-based substances degrade the adhesive.
When Ephemeral began tattooing customers in 2021, it introduced itself as a breakthrough for the tattoo industry. It promised at least some of the cool — though a number of permanent tattoo artists had their doubts, with one telling The Times that the concept “makes me want to cry” — without the commitment.
Thanks to international currency, it's significantly more affordable to get a tattoo in Thailand than in other parts of the world. Thailand tattoo prices are set for the local market and using overseas currencies means you'll get more bang for your buck, without compromising on quality.
Although putting glitter into tattoo ink is not currently possible, many artists are able to mimic the look of glitter in their tattoos.